about beans

I love music, but not in the conventional sense. I do not know much about playing instruments, nor am I an impressive singer by any stretch of the imagination. I never studied music, nor have I ever written music. But I sure do love listening to music, talking about music, reading about music, and, most of all, writing about music.

I love what music represents, its power to uplift moods and console downed hearts, and the associations that people can have with it. Whether it’s a “finding oneself” trip to San Francisco or a really awesome get together with a bunch of close friends, we all hold special memories in our hearts. And with those memories, often times embedded in them is music.

So much music out there in the world and so many tastes – and mine is just one of them. All my memories come with a song and, alternately, all songs can point me to a memory or two.

This goes without saying; this blog will shed shameless and unabashed favoritism on British music. In particular:
- “Madchester” (New Order, Stone Roses, The Smiths)
- Cool (Bloc Party, Radiohead, Depeche Mode)
- And, of course, my beloved Travis.

Of course I love American artists, too.

Genres I love and will talk about:
- Rock
- Motown
- Blues, funk, rockabilly
- Gospel

Instruments/sounds I like: ukulele, mellotron, cowbell, clavinet. In jazz, I love the piano-bass-drums trio sound.

Vocalists whose voices I love, no, absolutely adore: George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Jason Mraz, Andy Bell, Morrissey, Dave Gahan, Rufus Wainwright. Among female vocalists, I do like Aimee Mann, Mama Cass, Amy Winehouse, Nelly Furtado, Sandi Patti, Norah Jones.

Won’t you join me in this conversation?